Lois Williams Carter

The youngest of three girls, she was a precocious and very curious child.

At the beginning of the great depression, the family moved to the San Fernando Valley where Ed hoped to

start a business. Lois’ aunts, uncles and grandparents eventually moved to the valley as well, and despite

the hard times, she often recalled what a wonderful childhood she had, surrounded by family. She played

every day with her cousins Dick and Dean, and always had a place to go. She found her grandmother to

have a patient, listening ear and loved spending the night with her. She often confided in her when other

adults around her were too busy trying to make ends meet.

After graduating from Van Nuys High, she took a step nobody in her family had ever taken and entered

nurses training in San Jose. She told us nobody expected her to stick it out because she was such a

homebody, but stick it out she did. She graduated from nursing school and for the rest of her life she loved

giving compassionate, thoughtful and loving care care to anybody needing it.

She sent two boyfriends off to World War II, and only one came home. She first met Gerald Carter when she

was twelve years old. She always thought he was fun and handsome and he loved her and her family. They

were married on June 4th, 1948, and later sealed in the Los Angeles Temple. Lois was the beaming mother

of three children, Gerald Jr. (Cristie), Thomas (Beverly), and Mary Anne (Bill). Her children were her pride

and joy, and no sacrifice for them was too great.

In addition to raising her three children, Lois worked as a nurse for many years, in hospitals and doctors

offices to help with the family finances. Her patients loved her and she loved them. She made countless

house calls to cheer up the sick and seemed to know just what would make people feel better. Her children

often fielded calls at home, and some even described to us in detail their symptoms. We became closet

health professionals ourselves.

Lois was firm in her faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She always

accepted callings and assignments, and was diligent (sometimes to a fault) in carrying them out. She

received a patriarchal blessing when she was young, and was told she would receive a major calling in her

life, and it would come at a time when it would be difficult to accept it, but accept it she should. In the midst

of working as a nurse and raising her three children (and sometimes her husband), she was called as a

ward relief society president. Of course she served with compassion and determination, and love for the

sisters, and found it to be a rewarding calling that really blessed her life.

She loved to travel. Later in life, she took a job as a travel agent so she could get airfare and hotel rates for

next to nothing. She was a natural tour guide and took many family and friends off to see the world.

Lois felt most at home at the beach. She loved any beach on any ocean, but her favorite was probably

Carpinteria State Beach. She’d been going there since she was a little girl, and our family, along with many

friends and extended family, camped in tents and later, trailers sometimes several times a summer. We had

many adventures there, and spending time at the beach is a part of our family legacy. We hope she finds a

beautiful one on which to build her beach mansion to welcome us all for visits in the eternities.

Our mother left a legacy of love, friendship, and compassion. We are so sad at her passing, but are also

buoyed up by our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, his Atonement, and the knowledge of the Plan of

Salvation.

Arrangements under the direction of Bastian & Perrott, Oswald Mortuary, Northridge, CA.